Stray dog reunited with owner at last

Christina Baucom holds her dog "N.J.", short for Norma Jean, after the two were reunited Friday.

By Diane Turbyfill

Published: Friday, November 16, 2012 at 04:14 PM.

The little brown dachshund that captured many hearts during her months of homelessness reunited with her owner Friday morning.

Norma Jean, N.J. for short, eluded people for more than five months while living in the woods beside Regal Cinema in Franklin Square. Various people tried to coax her to their cars – whistling, waving food, bringing other dogs. Nothing worked.

A hot dog, her owner and the sound of her name proved the only successful combination to reel in the little girl.

Family split

Christina Baucom’s dogs, N.J. and Skynyrd, were like her children. But the family was divided when Baucom and her husband split up.

Forced to move from her home into an apartment, Baucom was faced with a dilemma. She couldn’t afford the $250 pet deposit and additional monthly fees to take her dogs with her.

The little brown dachshund that captured many hearts during her months of homelessness reunited with her owner Friday morning.

Norma Jean, N.J. for short, eluded people for more than five months while living in the woods beside Regal Cinema in Franklin Square. Various people tried to coax her to their cars – whistling, waving food, bringing other dogs. Nothing worked.

A hot dog, her owner and the sound of her name proved the only successful combination to reel in the little girl.

Family split

Christina Baucom’s dogs, N.J. and Skynyrd, were like her children. But the family was divided when Baucom and her husband split up.

Forced to move from her home into an apartment, Baucom was faced with a dilemma. She couldn’t afford the $250 pet deposit and additional monthly fees to take her dogs with her.

Baucom called out to her Facebook friends to find homes for the dachshunds.

Skynyrd went to an old high school friend of Baucom’s, and N.J. moved in with a woman who said she’d provide a good home.

Over several months Baucom kept track of Skynyrd on Facebook, but N.J.’s new owner would never respond to messages.

Baucom hoped that both her babies were being cared for.

Familiar face

Baucom glanced at The Gazette front page Thursday and gasped. N.J.’s picture was prominently placed on the page, and the article described her dog as homeless.

She read how people throughout Gaston County visited her pup, bringing her food, water, toys and a dog house. But N.J. was skittish and ran if anyone got too close.

Baucom cried.

Then she sprang into action. The Lowell woman took an unpaid day off work and spent nearly 12 hours camped out by the cinema.

Strangers stopped by. Her friends came in shifts.

A police officer stayed with her a while, suggesting she leave something behind so that N.J. would smell it and remember her scent. Baucom put out a blanket and went home. Sleeping seemed impossible.

Baucom drove back to the theater around 1:30 a.m. Friday, but crowds from the midnight showing of “Breaking Dawn: Part 2” filled the parking lot.

Baucom returned at 6:30 a.m. to make another attempt before work. N.J. wasn’t visible.

She put a handful of dog food on the blanket and got in her car. Just as she started to drive away, N.J. darted into the parking lot.

Baucom got out of her car, sat on the ground, held out a piece of hot dog and called to her dog.

N.J. ran full speed ahead, jumped in Baucom’s lap and licked her face.

Facebook network

When people first noticed N.J. lurking around the movie theater, they tried to help.

Unable to catch her, Good Samaritans started leaving food and bringing water. The caregivers started pinning notes to a tree to communicate about the effort to take care of and find a home for N.J.

Ashley Stewart got involved.

In August, she made a post on Facebook on the One Man’s Junk group, a page typically dedicated to buying, selling and trading goods. Some people have used the page to buy and sell animals or ask for help finding a lost pet.

Stewart’s post now has more than 200 comments.

New messages popped up Friday when word spread about Baucom and N.J.’s reuion.

Stewart said she was overjoyed, and that she hoped Facebook might help other lost pets.

People regularly post lost or found animals in the One Man’s Junk group, Stewart said.

“No animal should have to go through this and if posting a message on the computer can get an animal home then we all should be doing it,” Stewart wrote in a Facebook message. “I had no idea that posting that message would go so far! I thought a few people would see it. A few people would try to catch her. I had no idea that she would make it back to her real home. There are so many happy tears.”

Future plans

Baucom hated to leave her baby Friday morning, but she had to go to work.

A friend offered to keep N.J. company.

When she first set out to find N.J., Baucom planned to give the dog to her mother so she could avoid the apartment fees, but still have contact with her pet. That may not be necessary.

People who initially rallied behind N.J. are now standing by Baucom.

One person has offered to pay the dog’s initial vet bills to get her vaccines caught up. Others say they want to pitch in to pay Baucom’s pet deposit fees.

Tears streamed down Baucom’s face as she described holding N.J. again, and feeling the warmth of the kindness of strangers.

You can reach reporter Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.